The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-07-01

ownership of the wealth so laYishly re-
presented all around him.
He had said nothing about the future
position of AIiss Maxwell, goOd-natured-
" willing that she should find still
home with her aunt; but he sometimes
thought he would give her a hint
about assuming so much the air OF mis-
tress OF the house.
The wedding was magnificent, the
HONEYMOON spent in travelling upon
wedding-gift of o cheque from Mr..
Randalrs uncle; and one morning, i'll
cosy confidence, the subject of going
home arose.
Where have you taken rooms, DEAR"
Mrs. Randall asked; "or shall you go to
housekeeping"
shall you not return TO your own
house;"
My own house, 1 have no house,
joe" for suddenly the truth flashed
upon her; did you think had money:
i thought everyone knew that l was
Maude's Pensioner. oh" aud her face
was very pale, what fool l have been!
i though that you loved me-
You are no fool in thinking that"
was the quick reply, as her husband put
his arm around her; II do love you
1 did think the position reversed, and
that Maude depended on you; but
never doubt my love. II II was not
grows stronger every day that We spend
together"
- But yet you thought me wealthy
a humiiiating fact / cannot deny"
and then in sudden outburst OF con-
fidence, Mr.. Randall told his wife ths
whole truth, dwelling somewhat longer
upon his business attempts and perpleIi-
ties, than on the hope he had enter
tanned OF q future life OF luxurious idle
ness.
When he had finished. his wife
spoke:
" You may not like TO hear my fathers
opinion Of me, Joe, though ne meant II
TO be a complimentary one He always
said l should have been q man, for had
Il true business head.
- For ten years before he died he was
paralyZed, and was the actual head OF
his business, the weaving Of carpets, in
W. He left me a competency,
which was stolen from me by u dis
honest trustee; and / should have
taken up some occupation TO gain my
own living had not Maude been left an
orphan, and implored me to live with
her.
1t was scarcely He Of dependence,
for she needed me, and her lavish gifts
OF clothing and jewelry l accepted in
the place OF the salary anyone else in
my place must have been paid was
very happy; but l never dreamed that
was supposed to own her wealth.
Now listen to my proposition:
" The factory my father controlled ia
closed, but | am an old friend OF the
owner, who carried on the business for
@ short time after my father died, and
found his ignorance OF the details swept
away all the profits / will introduce
you to him, and the sale OF my diamonds
will give us sufficient capital for a
modest StIrt.
You viii be nominal master, as my
father was until you conquer all the in
tricacies OF the business, gain our old
customer, and carry on the whole with
out assistance.
Until then. let me direct and teach
you. a. helped my father. When you
are a rich man"-and here Mrs. Ran
dall's eyes grew dim with tender feeling
you can buy me some more dia-
mOndS."
Ii was not n matter for hasty decision.
Mr.. Randall, remembering his failures,
was doubtful of his ability, but his wife
had her way, and before their welded
life was six months old, Mr. Randall was
engaged in his new business.
Spurred on by an honest shame that a
woman had q better business head than
his own, he did what he had never done
befOro-threw his whole soul into his
business, and was amazed himself TO find
how soon he learned to guide it. He had
never suspected he possessed such ability
Every day filled his heart with deeper
love for the noble woman who was SO
true and faithful q helpmatet to him; who,
with all the knowledge he lacked,
never let one clerk or employe guess
her real position.
At home in the evening. she showed
him the result of her days correspon-
dence or bookkeeping, and gave him
clear Instructions for the next days
work.
And he, learning quickly. had sufficient
sense to let her control the entire buSi
ness, until she herselt. after two years OF
faithful work, said:
You can do without me, dear. 1
resign"
They had lived very economically In
those two years, Mrs Randall govern
ing the small house and one servant as
efficiently as she had controlled her
niece's grand mansion or the affairs Of
the factory
But ambition once reused in Joseph
Randall he resolved to give his wife
home as handsome as the one she
had left for love OF him. DePriving her
OF no comfort he could afford to give
her. lac denied himself all extravagancieS
that kad become second nature
Cigars were thrown aside clothing
was reduced to respectability. ignoring
the many changes of fashion, riding was
exchanged for an occasional drive with
Mrs. Randall. and year by year Joseph
Randall saw his business increase, his
bank account enlarge. until he was
master of a fiourishing business. and
OF the magnificent home where Mrs.
Randall had employed me to paint Tho
panels OF the bedroom doors.
And as years robbed the devoted wife
of her strength and the noble beauty of
middle life. they took nothing from the
love of husband, who knew that TO
her he owed all his prosperity. He
realized fully the life of indolent luxury
he would have led, and contrasted it
with the useful one TO which she had
guided him
A kind master, the families of his
work-people knew they had always q
friend in the head of the vast establish
ment in which the husband and father
toiled. Without children, both Mr. and
Mrs. Randall extended their charities far
and vide and when gratitude met them,
Joseph Randall said:
" The thanks are yours, dear. But
for you / should be that dreadful object,
an aimless, indolent man OF fashion
what in days gone by they called an old
beau"